Restaurants
Rivau’s Products
OUR OWN LOCAL PRODUCTS
Products of the garden and the Rivau’s farm
Our organic vegetables garden produce are served in our two restaurants (salads, peppers, onions, tomatoes, carrots, pumpkins…). We are part of local initiative of the Loire Valley, which promotes local and regional agriculture.
Our products such as honey, wines and soups are available in both of our restaurant or for purchase in our boutique. Among the homemade soups produced with the garden’s cucurbits, you can taste Berry squash or Etampes pumpkin soup, two local variety, depending on the harvest. It permit to learn to recognize the differences in taste of each variety.
The Château du Rivau kitchen’s garden has been awarded the « Vegetables Conservatory » label, helping to preserve vegetables native to the region.
Four AOC Chinon wines
In 2014, the Château du Rivau acquired vineyards in Cravant-les-Coteaux, close to the city of Chinon. Today, we produce four wines that we offer for sale in our boutique and for tasting in our two restaurant :
– A Rosé Wine : La Fée du Rivau
– A fresh, fruity Red Wine : Le Rivau
– A full-bodied Red Wine : Le Donjon du Rivau
– A White Wine : L’Artémis, new for 2022!
Our four wines are part of the Chinon AOC. This AOC, which has existed since 1937, is one of the first in France. Vineyards began to develop in Chinon as early as the 4th century. The Loire and Vienne rivers accompanied its development, making it easy to export wine production and spreading its reputation. Chinon wine was served at the court of kings as Henry II Plantagenet for example.
By producing this four Wines, the current owners created a link with the history of the castle, which used to be well-know and profitable thanks to vineyard. Known with archives and outbuildings, the wine tradition was very important at the Château du Rivau. The castle had his own winepress and vineyard, rebuilted and adapted during the seventeenth century !
Honey from our gardens
Indeed, bees play an important role in creating links between wild ecosystems and agricultural production by transporting the various pollens found in plants. Thanks to them, many food resources are produced. As bees are essential to human and animal life, many conservation initiatives have been put in place to protect them. Raising awareness among the younger generation is one of our mission. We contribute through numerous events and educational visits throughout the year.
Did you know that bees move between 3 and 9 kilometers around the hives to gather the flowers they need to produce honey ? The type of honey produced depends on the harvest, which at Le Rivau takes place minimum twice a year, in spring and in summer. During these harvests, each honeycomb frame can weigh from 10 to 15 kilos…
